Volkswagen is dipping into its past with a three-door special edition of the Golf GTI set to arrive in Australia to celebrate the defining hot hatch in its original form.

Called the Golf GTI Performance Edition 1, the new limited edition will be capped at just 150 examples for Australia and arrive with a range of added features and a special performance package.

Under the bonnet lies a retuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with outputs wound up to 180kW and 370Nm, a step up from the 169kW and 350Nm tune of the regular Mark 7.5 Golf GTI.

Purists may baulk at the auto-only transmission, but in the case of the Performance Edition 1 the dual-clutch box is the seven-speed from the Golf R in place of the six-speed available on the regular Golf GTI.

Power is sent to the front wheels, with a locking front differential to enhance traction, bigger brakes and 19-inch alloy wheels.

A colour pallette restricted to just White Silver metallic and Dark Iron Blue metallic paint, premium LED tail lights, leatherette and microfleece upholstery, tinted rear windows and new digital display information are also part of the limited edition package.